Category: Owners/Architects

Golf News for March 3, 2017

March 3, 2017
Simon Hobday as seen with the trophy after winning the 1994 U.S. Senior Open Championship at Pinehurst (Copyright USGA/Robert Walker)
Simon Hobday as seen with the trophy after winning the 1994 U.S. Senior Open Championship at Pinehurst (Copyright USGA/Robert Walker)

1994 U.S. Senior Open Champion Simon Hobday Dies — “I’ll go with the flow, and there will be plenty flowing. You can bet on it.”

Tricky trees to make for unique week in Mexico — “It is very narrow,” world No. 1 Dustin Johnson said before detailing his strategy this week of severely curtailing his use of the driver, normally his best club in the bag.

Major Proposed Changes — All the golf world is abuzz with talk of the proposed changes. The USGA provides a detailed look at each proposal, scheduled to go into effect in 2019.

Summer Golf Course Intern — Country Club in Boothbay, Maine is looking for a Summer Golf Course Intern.

5 Things Not to Do When Bringing Music to the Golf Course — We started hearing music on the course in Maine last summer. As music lovers, it caught our attention. As golf lovers, it distracted us. Will we have to bring our own music this summer to fight fire with fire?

Even New Courses Need To Address Water Use Issues — A Case Study: During a recent bunker renovation, native areas at The Stock Farm were expanded. The project improved playing conditions and helped save water.

And Now For Something Completely Different: THE GRASS IS ALWAYS SCREAMER – Golf Course Aerating Machines Are Terrifying And Mesmerizing [VIDEO] — Aerating golf greens helps keep the playing surfaces in good shape, but honestly, we’re stunned that a Bond villain hasn’t used an aerator as a instrument of pain yet, because, uh, look at this thing.

Golf News for February 28, 2017

February 28, 2017
Great Big Bertha Epic Driver
Great Big Bertha Epic Driver

Callaway Golf Has Created Its Most Epic Driver Yet — Callaway Golf estimates that a normal driver takes 500 to 600 steps to create, whereas the Epic needs more than 1,000. The equipment maker boasts that the Epic is the most complicated driver it has ever made.

Maynard takes helm as GCSAA President — Bill H. Maynard, the director of golf course maintenance operations at the Country Club of St. Albans in St. Albans, Mo., has been elected to a one-year term as president of the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA) at the association’s annual meeting Feb. 9, held in conjunction with the Golf Industry Show in Orlando.

Fowler shrugs off Miller critique: ‘A win’s a win’ — Fowler’s victory at the Honda Classic failed to impress Johnny Miller. Sheeesh, everybody’s a critic!

Kids learn about golf — and life — at Honda Classic — The boys and girls from Delray Beach, Boca Raton, Riviera Beach, West Palm Beach and Boynton Beach have been taking classes with the nonprofit organization about the history of golf and the rules of conduct on the course. They watched videos. They learned game etiquette, what to wear and how to read a scorecard, as well as other aspects of the game.

A $10 Weekend With Bill Murray, Tour To Play On Facebook Live, New UA Bags — Murray is giving away a pretty epic prize package as a way to raise money for next month’s Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament that he runs every year with his five brothers.

Golf News for February 25, 2017

February 25, 2017

highland-1080x675Assistant Golf Professional — Golf Course in Poland Spring, Maine is looking for an Assistant Golf Professional.

Freakishly warm February temps have America’s golfers giddy — We played in New Jersey yesterday, at Neshanic Valley. We’d like to say we shot a 78, but that was the temperature!

Rory McIlroy Defends Decision to Golf With Donald Trump — A hassle has again found McIlory, in the form of intolerant golf fans, despite his stated view that a round of golf with the president is “quite simply, a round of golf.

“Ready golf” encouraged during British Am stroke play — The stroke-play portion of this year’s British Amateur will feature “ready golf” as the Royal and Ancient experiments with ways to improve pace of play.

How To Choose New Golf Clubs That Are Right For Your Game — Industry experts estimate that more than 90 percent of golfers do not have clubs fit to their games.

Bryson DeChambeau ditches side-saddle putting, points blame at the USGA — “They’re (the USGA) not a good organization, and you can quote me on that. I’m part of their family and as family it’s very frustrating to see them stunt the growth of the game.” We think it looked silly…

Schaupeter, ASGCA, looks at “essence of golf course architecture” — “Golf is best when it creates a sense of adventure for the players and allows them to discover a course through their own assertive and heroic play.”

WATCH: Australian YouTube star breaks world record with 395-foot putt —

Golf News for February 23, 2017

February 23, 2017
Topgolf donated 11,000 left- and right-handed golf clubs, 600 yards of turf squares and 21,000 golf balls to the troops.
Topgolf donated 11,000 left- and right-handed golf clubs, 600 yards of turf squares and 21,000 golf balls to the troops.

Golf Retail Sales Associate — Having recently acquired Goflsmith, DICK’S Sporting Goods is seeking a part-time golf sales associate in the Golf department to join our team in Bangor.

Don’t Try This at Home! — Remember that time Phil Mickelson performed his signature Flop Shot over his 6’4″ short game coach Dave Pelz? Yeah, you can’t do that…

Golf doesn’t have to be four days, 72 holes and stroke play — The event was the World Super 6 and it featured a 54-hole cut, after which the surviving golfers played each other in match play. Not 18-hole matches, mind, you, but six-hole matches. In some ways, it is like fooling with the fundamental forces of nature, because we all know that 72 holes of stroke play is the measure of a golfer? Or is it?

Why a successful Ian Poulter comeback is so vital for golf — Poulter lives for the Ryder Cup. And why wouldn’t he? It’s the game’s biggest stage. His performances in the biennial event have backed up his passion, as Poulter has been Europe’s catalyst and workhorse since he began qualifying for the event.

Topgolf Recycles Golf Equipment to Entertain Military Troops — Global sports entertainment leader Topgolf® is putting its gently used golf equipment to good use. Today the company formally announced its partnership with Bunkers in Baghdad, a New York-based charitable organization that ships supplies to overseas troops seeking leisure-time entertainment and/or physical rehabilitation.

5 of the best announcer calls in golf history — On the 37th anniversary of the famous, “Do you believe in miracles?!” call by Al Michaels at the 1980 Olympics, we highlight five of the best announcer calls in golf history.

Golf News for February 21, 2017

February 21, 2017
rory and trump
Garry Singer, President Trump, Rory McIlroy and Paul O’Neill

Great Donald Ross Golf Courses Everyone Can Play — The authors estimate that there are over 315 golf courses in existence in the U.S. that Ross had a hand in designing. There are nine courses in Maine, most are private: Lucerne Golf Course in Dedham; Portland Country Club in Falmouth; Lake Kezar Country Club in Lovell; Augusta Country Club, Manchester; Cape Neddick Country Club in York; Penobscot Valley Country Club; Poland Spring Golf Course; York Golf & Tennis Country Club; and Biddeford Saco Country Club in Saco.

Banks With Interest — Have you ever found yourself asking why there is a strip of unkempt grass surrounding a pond? Or, why has the maintenance crew stopped trimming the creek banks? And, why do these areas always eat your golf ball? Next time you see tall plants bordering water features do not be too quick to condemn these areas and instead appreciate the environmental benefits they provide and the added interest they bring a golf course.

The Nine Most Eagerly Awaited New Golf Courses Of 2017 — We’re all gonna need a bigger Bucket List!

Golf tip: Side hill lie can cause frustration — First of all, a ball above your feet will move more right to left because of the lie. The ball will also tend to travel further. Using less club is advised.

Rory McIlroy rates Donald Trump’s golf game ‘decent’ after practice round — McIlroy has targeted the WGC-Mexico Championship on Mar. 2 for his comeback — an event which was moved from Trump National Doral to Mexico City and renamed from the WGC-Cadillac Championship last June.

Royal St. George’s to host 2020 British Open — The event will visit Royal Birkdale this year before heading to Carnoustie in 2018 and then to Northern Ireland for the first time in more than 60 years as Royal Portrush plays host in 2019.

Golf News for February 18, 2017

February 18, 2017
October Golf Gear
Semper Fore! Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment

October Golf Gear Bags Show Military-inspired Compartmentalization, Customization – A former Marine, October Golf Gear founder and CEO Romeo Filip says the idea is based on the military’s compartmentalized carrying system known as MOLLE, or Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment.

USGA and Royal & Ancient Say Distance in Golf is Not an Issue – The USGA and R&A recently released a study which showed that distance is totally not an issue in the sport of golf these days. (In other news, size also doesn’t matter…)

PGA Tour Taps Intel Technology to Drive Golf into Virtual Reality – The PGA Tour and Intel Sports Group’s Voke virtual reality unit tested the technology on the famous 10th hole at storied Riviera Country Club in Los Angeles ahead of the Genesis Open that teed off Thursday.

Saunders Opens 2-shot Lead at Riviera – This is how Sam Saunders prefers to be in a starring role — on a golf course making birdies, not as the composed grandson of Arnold Palmer giving a rock-solid eulogy for the King at his memorial service last October.

Cut Line: What’s next? It’s all up in the air – With the West Coast swing of the season nearing an end, Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard asks what’s next.

Golf Games That Don’t Require a Handicap? – Planning a round of golf around a wedding, or an outing with a large group of varying levels of skill? Here are some golf games that will fit the occasion. [Video]

Architects team with U.S. Kids Golf to make game more fun – After decades of making golf courses longer, designers have lined up to reverse the trend. The effort comes in the form of a working alliance between the American Society of Golf Course Architects and the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation.

Golf News for February 16, 2017

February 16, 2017

Wild Golf Reimagines the Ancient Game as a Contact Sport – See the video. This recalls our dream of golfing the length of the Appalachian Trail…

Is Golf Ready for the Innovative World Super 6 Perth format? – Sounds like Ranked Choice Voting to us… Golf ain’t broke, so let’s not try and fix it.

Confusion Over 2020 Golf Venue Dates Back to Bid: Report – Problems surrounding the venue for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics golf events, which does not allow full membership for women, stem from documents prepared for the original bid, a Japanese media report said on Wednesday.

This Week at Riviera Country Club Offers a Preview of the 117th U.S. Amateur Championship – The U.S. Amateur returns to Southern California for the first time in 41 years this August when Riviera Country Club hosts the 117th playing.

Golf Greats to Host 2017 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by Mastercard – Peter Jacobsen, Graeme McDowell, Annika Sörenstam and Curtis Strange will join former Secretary of Homeland Security and family friend Tom Ridge to host the 39th Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard, taking place in Orlando March 16-19.

Golf Tip: Play Out Positive Scenarios for Better Results – In golf, as in life, it is essentially an evolutionary mechanism that allows us to imagine consequences before they actually happen.

Golf’s Governing Bodies Fooling Nobody About Distance – “Change the frigging golf ball,” Jack Nicklaus said at last year’s Masters. “The golf ball goes so far, Augusta National is about the only place, the only golf course in the world that financially can afford to make the changes that they have to make to keep up with the golf ball.”